hmmm.... 'tis the season for injuries, isn't it? a whole lot of us are
suffering from aches and pains of one sort or another right now. we
are all gearing up for spring races and just might be pushing a little
too hard, possibly in new shoes, and on the harder bare roads (which
may have been covered in snow up til recently).
while i can manage my piriformis/hip ache with stretches, i seem to
have a foot thing going on which i'll bet is the root of some of the
recent increased pirif/hip aggravation. my left big toe has a very
soft, sensitive area on it where it hurts and sometimes feels numb. no
visible bad things on it, just some redness sometimes... not even
swelling that i can see. but the pain can be pretty bad sometimes. i
walk a lot during the day at work, wearing work shoes with steel toe.
my left foot is a bit smaller than the right and therefore it slips
around a little in the shoe. this rubbing seems to.... *seems* to...
have caused this malady. the pain can range from a burning sensation
to a sharp pain, and only when my forefoot strikes the ground and the
toe moves a bit.
i've worn a toe pad, these little spongy foam tubes that cushion the
toe and protect it, to minimize aggravation and discomfort. i've had
this condition to varying degrees for maybe a couple of years now,
though it nearly goes away completely sometimes, depending on my
activity level. i'm wondering if i should wear another sock layer on
that foot so there will be a more snug fit in the shoe. i already wear
two pairs of socks.... a thin cotton sport sock, and Thorlo running
socks over top.
only recently did i put two and two together (yeah, math!) and deduced
that the increased toe pain causes me to favour that toe, not landing
with proper form when running or even walking, thereby messing up my
hip and so on. sound possible? so if i can solve the toe thing, then
the hip/pirif. thing just might go away or at least decrease.
anyone else experience anything like this? i'd appreciate any ideas
here. time to really take care of this... with a race (half marathon)
in less than two months.
thanks,
Cam